Turk Mountain Trail, located in the south district of Shenandoah National Park, is a 2.2 mile moderate, out and back hike to the 2,981′ summit. Western views from the rocky summit include beautiful farmland, as well as residential and commercial pockets between the towns of Crimora and Doons. The distant mountains pass through the George Washington National Forest.
The summit view point is atop Erwin quartzite, piles of sandstone boulders that form a talus, visible from distant viewing points. A talus is a slope of loose boulders that form an outcropping on the face of a mountain. The Turk Mountain Trail ends on one such talus, providing a place to rest and enjoy the distant surroundings.
Although this trail is short compared to paths that lead to other Shenandoah National Park summits, it does not have the expansive view that other mountains do. Also, the boulders at the top can be challenging for some to navigate. For these reasons, the Turk Mountain summit is less populated than others such as Marys Rock and Hawksbill Mountain.
- Trailhead Parking
- Turk Mountain Trail Description
- Turk Mountain Trail Map and Details
- About Shenandoah National Park
Trailhead Parking
The trailhead is closest to the Rockfish Gap Entrance Station, the southern most point of Shenandoah National Park. The entrance is roughly 5 miles southeast of Waynesboro, and 25 miles due west of Charlottesville. The Turk Gap Parking Area, at milepost 94.1, has space for 14-16 vehicles.
Turk Mountain Trail
Cross Skyline Drive and follow the white Appalachian Trail blazes, southbound .2 mile. At the stone mile marker, follow the right hand trail, the Turk Mountain Trail to the summit. This portion of the pathway is marked by sky blue blazes on the trees that like the trail.
The Appalachian Trail section is dirt, relatively wide and flat. The Turk Mountain Trail begins as a narrow dirt pathway, traveling downhill for approximately .3 mile then swinging uphill to the summit. The trail surface changes from gentle dirt to a rock strewn surface about .2 mile from the summit. To access the views, hikers must climb atop the boulder slabs.
To return to the parking area, reverse direction on the trail from the overlook. This is an out-and-back hike, as there are not other connecting trails to create a loop. At the AT marker, turn left and continue to Skyline Drive.
Turk Mountain Overlook
The Overlook is a parking area and viewing station at Skyline Drive milepost, 93.7. From this vantage point, visitors enjoy a clear view of Turk Mountain.
Turk Mountain Trail Map and Details
Access my map on AllTrails by clicking the map image below.
| Hike difficulty classifications (link) | |
|---|---|
| Route type | Out and back |
| Trail difficulty level | Moderate |
| Geographic location | Shenandoah National Park, South Section |
| Trailhead parking options | Turk Gap Parking Area, milepost 94.1 |
| Trail amenities | None. Restrooms available at Loft Mountain Wayside, milepost 79.5 |
| Elevation - trailhead | 2,602' |
| Elevation - highest peak | 2,981' |
| Elevation gain | 690' |
| Total mileage | 2.2 miles |
| Water sources | None on the trail. Water available at Loft Mountain Wayside, milepost 79.5 |
| Highlights | Western views of Shenandoah Valley |
Additional trails in the area
Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park is located in the Appalachian Mountains of central Virginia. With over 200,000 acres of protected land, this National Park is an east coast gem! It is divided into three regions, aptly named the North, Central and South sections. The Skyline Drive is the only roadway that spans the length of the Park, covering 101 miles of views and access to trails, lodges and campgrounds.
The park has 4 entrance points. Click the links below for directions:
- Front Royal (North) – Route 340 in Front Royal
- Thornton Gap – Route 211 east of Luray, west of Sperryville
- Swift Run Gap – Route 33 east of Elkton
- Rockfish Gap (South) – Route 64 east of Waynesboro
The entrance fees vary depending on type (day pass, Shenandoah Annual Pass or National Park Annual Pass), age, military service and so forth. Click here for entrance price details.
Do you want to learn more about Shenandoah National Park trails? Check out my other posts at the link below.
